Trolley-wire support or hanger



(No Model.)

s. a. WOODHEAD. U TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT 0R HANGER.

Patented-05L 9, 1894.

m: norims Pzrzas cc, PnoTo-umq. WASNIFiOTON, n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM CARR WOODHEAD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLlEY-WIRE SUPPORT OR HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,355, dated October9, 1894.

Application filed April 24,1894- $erial No. 508.813- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAM CARR WOODHEAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement inTrolley-Wire Supports or Hangers, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specificaiion.

My invention relates to improvements in trolley wire supports, and hasparticular reference to that class of such devices, in which when atrolley wire breaks, 850., a means will be provided for preventing thewire falling some kind will be to the ground, and thereby preventing anyaccidents, &c.

The object of my invention, is to provide a device which can be attachedto a separate and distinct wire, having no electric connections, andwhich will have one of its arms extending beneath the trolley wire atall times and thereby preventing the trolley falling to the ground.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal, by means ofwhich a signal of given in the power house of the electric road. i i

To these ends my invention consists in the improved combination andconstruction of parts, as more fully described and pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a sketch view of a street, showing thepoles, &c., of a trolley line, and also showing a number of the devicesattached thereto. Fig. 2- is a perspective view of one of my devices.Fig. 3-

is a sectional View of the wire support; and,

Fig. 4- is a sectional view of a modified form of the wire support, thesame being adapted to be used when no connection with the power house isdesired.

Similar numerals of referen ce indicate similar parts in all of the.figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the post and 2 the support ofany ordinary trolley wire support.

3 designates a wire, adapted to be strung ,on the supports, on either orboth sides of the trolley wire. This wire may be placed over the support2, as shown in the drawings, or under it, as desired, but the form shownin the drawings is preferred for the reason that should the wire, 3, byany means become detached from its insulated connection with the support2, it will drop onto the support 2 and still support the trolley wireshould it break.

4 designates my improved hanger or sup port, which consists of a spindleportion 5, having its upper end bent to form a hook to support it on thewire 3, and having on its lower end, a riveted head, to prevent the wiresupport 6 from dropping off of the spindle.

6 designates the wire support, of any suitable material, and of anydesired form, the circular form shown in the drawings being preferred.An opening 7 is formed in its center to permit of the passage of thespindle 5, upon which the support is adapted to revolve.

8 designate radial arms, secured in the periphery of the wire support 6,and extend downward at an angle, so that when in position, the arms willrest beneath the trolley wire. These arms, have loops 9 formed at thebase of the angular portion, and the op: posite end of the wire is thencarried upward at an opposite angle and the end then turned outwardlyand downwardly. The object of this is to catch the trolley wire, shouldit fall on either side of the loop 9. a

By placing the ends of the wire 3 in the power house of the trolleyline, and connecting thereto any signaling apparatus, as a gong, &c., bythe breaking of the trolley wire,

the broken part of which will drop into one of the radial arms 8, aconnection is formed, through the radial arms 8, wire support 6 andspindle 5, with the wire 3, and through that wire to the signalingapparatus in the power house, and thereby notifying the attendants thatsomething is wrong on the line, and enabling them to stop the dynamos,850., before any particular damage is done. These supports or hangers,are adapted to be placed on the wire 3, at short distances from eachother, as desired, one of the radial arms being placed directlyunderneath the trolley wire. When the trolley passes along the trolleywire, it meets the arm resting beneath the trolley wire and pushes itforward, turning the wire support 6 on its spindle 5, and therebybringing a new arm into position. These hangers or supports may beplaced on I CC:

' 3. 11 designates a metal journal secured inside of the bushing 10 forthe purposelof forming a wearingsurface for the spindle.

This modification is to be used when no connection with the power houseis desired. 5

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the tracks posts, supports and trolley wire of atroliey system;

of a wire attached to said supports; and a series of revoluble supportsor hangers sup-' ported by said wire, whereby when said trolley wire hasbecome broken or cut, the said supports or hangers will prevent the samefrom falling to the ground, substantiallyas described. 7

2. The combination with the tracks, posts,

supports and trolley wire of a trolley system; of a wire attached tosaid supports by insulators, said wire having electrical connection witha signal located at some pre-determined point; and a series of revolublesupports or hangers supported by said wire to catch and retain saidtrolley wire when it has become out or broken, and thereby form acomplete circuit, through the broken trolley wire, the

5 supports or hangers, and the wire supporting said supports or hangers,by means of which said signal will be operated, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the tracks, posts, supports, and trolley wire, ofa trolley system, with a wire, attached to said supports, by

means of insulators, said wire having attached thereto a'support for thetrolley wire, comprising a spindle, a rotary wire support, adapted torevolve on said spindle, and .wire arms attached to said wire support,said arms being adapted to rest under said trolley wire,in successiveorder, substantially as described.

t. A trolley wire support or hanger, comprising in its construction, aspindle, having at one end arhook to suspend the support on a wire, andhaving at its other end a riveted head; a wire support adapted torevolve around said spindle; and wire radial arms attached to said wiresupport, substantially as described.

5. A'trolley wire support or hanger, comprising in its construction, aspindle, having at one end a curved hook, and having at its other end ariveted head; a wire support adapted to revolve on said spindle; andwire radial ,arms attached to said wire support, each of said arms beingcomposed of asingle piece of wire, bent downward at an angle, anopenloop formed therein, and the outer end of the wire passed upward atan angle, said radial arm beingadapted to receive the broken portion ofa trolley wire, substantially as described.

6. A trolley wire support or hanger, comprising in its construction, aspindle, having at one end a hook and at its other end a riveted head; awire support adapted to revolve on' said spindle, said wire supportconsisting of an inner wearing portion, a bushingformed of insulatingmaterial, and the wire supporting portion; and wire radial arms securedto said wire support at its periphery, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand.

S. CARR WOODI-IEAD.

Witnesses:

GEORGE MCCURDY, O. E. PIERCE.

